Game



ug 17, 1965 R. R. vENsEL 3,201,125

GAME

Filed NOV. 23, 1962 NVENTR. RICHARD R. VENSEL Attorneys United States Patenti() 3,201,125 GAME Pa) i l Filed Nov. 23, 1962, Ser. No. 239,643 4 Claims. (Cl. 273-95) This invention relates generally to games, and more particularly to a game of skill which involves the manipulation by magnetic force of magnetic missiles with relation to movable hollow-Walled bodies having apertures through which the missiles 'are directed.

Garne devices of the character to which this invention relates have heretofore been provided in which the player, holding a magnet above a transparent membrane, suspends a steel ball against the underside thereof and by moving the magnet travels the ball from a starting posiltion to arposition over a target and then releases the ballby withdrawing the magnet and letting the ball drop, endeavoring thereby to `drop the ball into or onto the target. i

. According tothe present invention, I provide in a toy of this general `kind unique movable targets and particularly targets that move or roll erratically and with motions that are diicult for the operator to control. A combination of conditions is thereby provided that increases the action of the game `and requires more skill on the part of the player than games having xed targets. Much of `the fascination of a game such as this depends on theability of the player, either by skill or chance to maneuver the target and the missiles into a relation where the missile can be dropped into the target and still not lose from another target a ball or missile that may have previously been dropped therein. ifo get the several missiles in the severaltargets in a minimum length of i time gives the player a gratifying sense of achievement, as with the solving of a puzzle, and enables players using a watch or miniature hour glass to contest their skill and to follow a scoring system.

A principal object of the invention therefore is to provide a game which furnishes action and challenges the skill of the player by having targets, the motions of which are not entirely within the control of the player.

Another object is the provision of a game of small compact design capable of being held in a players hand and which offers a substantial challenge in its successful or winning operation by a player.

Still another object is to provide a game having a free moving missile controllable in direction and movement by a magnet manipulated by the player for the purpose of directing the missile against a movable target.

A complete understanding of the invention may be had from the following detailed description of a specific embodiment thereof when read in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein:

FIG. l is a front elevational view of the game, partly broken away;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the game; and

FIG. 3 shows in perspective view one of the targets of the game in detail.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is 'shown in FIG. 1, which illustrates a preferred embodiment, the completely assembled game 11. The game 11 Vas shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is composed preferably of a circular base 12 of sheet card stock or other material which is non-magnetic, and the base is covered on its upper surface 13 by a transparent cover or dome 14 which is hemispherical in shape and of a material which is also non-magnetic. The peice N riphery of the dome 14 is provided with a bell flange 14a which is continuous, and which is fastened to the peripheral marginal portion of the base 12 by suitable fasteners such as rivets 15.

`A magnet holder 16 is shown in FIG. 1 to include a body 1'7 of `a size to be grasped by a player not unlike a knob and the body is provided with a longitudinal bore 18 within whichan elongated permanent magnet 19 is force-tilted with the magnet being exposed at one end of the holder 16 for a purpose to be explained hereinafter. The magnet preferably is tapered in diameter such that one end of a flexible keeper or cord 21 may be wedged between the magnet and bore wall of the longitudinal bore 18. The other end of the cord 21 is connected to the lower surface 22 of the base 12 by suitable fastener means such as the headed anchor member 23. In this fashion the holder 16 `is readily available tothe players, may be freely moved inthe range required and is less likely to be lost. i

In FIGS. 2 and 3, 24 designates each of a plurality of hollow, non-magnetic targets which may simulate a nut such as an English walnut `or similar somewhat irregularly vshaped object, and which is provided with an` aperture 25 therein. In practice, it has been found best to provide the target with a peripheralange 26 in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the aperture 25. The flange 26 functions to aid a player in maintaining the target 24 with its aperture side facing upwardly as depicted in FIG. l, for example, because the flange prevents the target from rolling excessively, but none-the-less with `an erratic and unpredictable motion. The targets 24 move freely on the upper surface 13 of the base `12 and beneath the dome 14. A soft molded plastic target has been utilized for the example of the invention described herein, although other non-magnetic materials may be suitablyfabricated and fashioned in the desired configuration.

The height of the dome 14 in the modication of the invention illustrated by FIGS. 1' and 2 is equal to the radiusR, FIG. 2, which extends from the center of the circular base 12 to the inner edge of the flange 14a. By this dimensioning of the dome, a uniformly-curved surface is provided over which the magnet 19 may be slidably moved. Both the inner and the outer walls of the transparent dome 14 are smooth, for example, and the wall is only as thick as is necessary to hold its form and not be readily crushed. A

Small magnetic missiles such as the metallic spheroids 27 are influenced by the magnet 19 when the latter is in the vicinity of the spheroid such that movement of the magnet 19 on the outer surface of the dome 14 simultaneously moves a spheroid 27 captured in the magnetic field of the magnet as illustrated best in FIG. l. The removal of the magnet 19 from the dome 14 enlarges the gap between the magnet and the ball so -that the spheroid falls by gravity from its position formerly held under the influence of the magnet. A plurality of apertures 28 extend through the base 12 and are of a diameter slightly less than that of the spheroids 27' which may be removably contained within the apertures 28 in a rest condi-tion.

As mentioned hereinabove, the targets 24 are freely and preferably erratically movable over the upper surface 13 of the base 12 beneath the dome 14; consequently, the object of the game is to drop or direct a missile 27 through an aperture 2S provided in a target 24. This objective is accomplished by the manipulation, with the force of a magnet, of a missile 27 from its position of rest within the base aperture 28 `to an elevated position above the base and against the dome inner surface. Tilting of the game base 12 by the player places the aperture 25 of the target in upright position. The player quickly vmay be played.

A F, i

removes the magnet 19 from its contact against the dome and consequently its holding contact with a spheroid 27 when the missile is aligned instantaneously with an aperture 25 of a target 24. The sudden release of the spheroid 27 causes it todrop by gravity toward and into the hollow interior of a target 24 through the aperture 25 thereof.

Once a spheroid 27 is contained successfully Within a target 24 it must be retained in this condition until all the remaining missiles lor spheroids are directed into correspondng apertures 25 of other targets 24. When all missiles are contained Within all targets, one missile in each target, the player has succeeded in winning the game. Other rules of the game may, of course, be deiined Without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention, the sequence of operations aforementioned merely being exemplary of one manner in which the game It is important to note, however, that when a condition arises by which one target 24 contains a spheroid 27, and a subsequent target 24 is being manipulated by tilting of the base 12 simultaneously with movement of av spheroidV 27 by the magnet holder 16, the chances ,of the game are multiplied. That is, the target n containing the spheroid 27 Vmust retain that missile while the game base is being tilted and otherwise moved to present a target aperture to a position into which a Ymirsile may be dropped. The illed targets are emptied of the missiles by more or less vigorously shaking the toy or game and the emptying takes place most rapidly when the dome is inverted.

It is manifest that the above-described embodiment of the invention is merely illustrative and that numerous modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A game comprising a non-magnetic base, a transparent non-magnetic cover overlying the base, a hollow free-rolling non-magnetic target supported on the base and free -to roll about over the base under the cover, a magnetic missile positioned under the cover, and a magnet outside the cover and movable over its outer surface for attracting the missile on the inner surface of the cover opposite the magnet, the magnetic force of lthe magnet retaining the missile on the inner surface of the cover and above the base as the magnet is moved on the cover outer surface, removal of the magnet from the outer surface of the cover lterminating the force of attraction of the missile to the magnet whereby the missile drops to- Ward the base and a target, the target having an opening therein large enough for the missile to fall through it and be received inside the target. Y

2. A game as in claim 1 wherein the base is planar and the cover is dome-shaped.

3. In a game having a non-magnetic base, a transparent non-magnetic cover overlying the base and attached at its periphery to the base, a plurality of magneticmissiles confined between the cover and the base and which mayV bhe attracted and moved about over the inside of the cover by a magnet held against the cover and released by removal of the magnet away from the cover, a plurality of hollow targets also confined between the cover and the base, each of the targets being of hollow irregular ovular References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 735,269 8/03 Keith 273-153 843,388 2/07 Bragg 273-117 1,262,768 4/18 Gagon 273-117 2,339,209 1/44 Vensel 273-95 FOREIGN PATENTS 835,925 Y 5/60 Great Britain.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

D ELBERT B. LOWE, Examiner. 

1. A GAME COMPRISING A NON-MAGNETIC BASE, A TRANSPARENT NON-MAGNETIC COVER OVERLYING THE BASE, A HOLLOW FREE-ROLLING NON-MAGNETIC TARGET SUPPORTED ON THE BASE AND FREE TO ROLL ABOUT OVER THRE BASE UNDER THE COVER, A MAGNETIC MISSILE POSITIONE DUNDER THE COVER, AND A MAGNET OUTSIDE THE COVER AND MOVABLE OVER ITS OUTER SURFACE FOR ATTRACTING THE MISSILE ON THE INNER SURFACE OF THE COVER OPPOSITE THE MAGNET, THE MAGNETIC FORCE OF THE MAGNET RETAINING THE MISSILE ON THE INNER SURFACE OF THE COVER AND ABOVE THE BASE AS THE MAGNET IS MOVED ON THE COVER OUTER SURFACE, REMOVAL OF THE MAGNET FROM THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE COVER TERMINATING THE FORCE OF ATTRACTION OF THE MISSILE TO THE MAGNET WHEREBY THE MISSILE DROPS TOWARD THE BASE AND A TARGET, THE TARGET HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN LARGE ENOUGH FOR THE MISSILE TO FALL THROUGH IT AND BE RECEIVED INSIDE THE TARGET. 